Mixed Liquid and Solid Fuel Composition

ABSTRACT

A fuel composition that provides a renewable biofuel energy source for reducing dependence on fossil fuels and improving air quality by reducing the amount of carbon monoxide released into the air during combustion. The fuel composition includes an energy crop comprising: a solid granular component being suspended in a liquid non-petroleum plant based fuel. The liquid fuel containing the granular component is efficacious in releasing copious quantities of vapor for burning. The vapor provides a more complete and efficient burn. The fuel composition further comprises an oxidizing agent for removing a plurality of electrons from the granular component during combustion, and/or an additive that imparts a change in the physical properties of the fuel composition.

The current application is a Continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/061,707, filed Oct. 23, 2013, which claims priority benefit of the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 61/717,587, filed on Oct. 23, 2012. The contents of the related parent application and provisional application are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes to the extent that such subject matter is not inconsistent herewith or limiting thereof.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to one or more embodiments of the invention that generally relate to a fuel composition comprising: a liquid non-petroleum plant based fuel with a solid suspended granular component, said liquid fuel with said granular component being operable to release a vapor, said vapor being operable to improve the efficiency of a combustion. The fuel composition may further comprise an oxidizing agent, said oxidizing agent being operable to remove a plurality of electrons from said liquid fuel and/or said granular component during combustion so as to further improve combustion efficiency; and/or an additive that imparts a change in the physical properties of the fuel composition. More particularly, one or more embodiments of the invention relate to a biofuel based on granular component. The present invention also relates to a method for combusting the fuel composition to produce vapors for powering a vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The following is an example of a specific aspect in the prior art that, while expected to be helpful to further educate the reader as to additional aspects of the prior art, is not to be construed as limiting the present invention, or any embodiments thereof, to anything stated or implied therein or inferred thereupon. By way of educational background, another aspect of the prior art generally useful to be aware of is that a biofuel is a type of fuel whose energy is derived from biological carbon fixation. Biofuels include fuels derived from biomass conversion, as well as solid biomass, liquid fuels and various biogases.

Typically, an energy crop is a plant grown as a low-cost and low-maintenance harvest used to make a biofuel, or combusted for its energy content to generate electricity or heat. Energy crops are generally categorized as woody or herbaceous plants. Commercial energy crops are typically densely planted, high-yielding crop species where the energy crops will be burnt to generate power.

Typically, combustion or burning is the sequence of exothermic chemical reactions between a fuel and an oxidant accompanied by the production of heat and conversion of chemical species. The release of heat can result in the production of light in the form of either glowing or a flame. Fuels can include organic compounds in the gas, liquid, or solid phase.

In view of the foregoing, it is clear that these traditional techniques are not perfect and leave room for more optimal approaches.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary fuel composition in an exemplary combustion process, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary cycle for the combustion of an exemplary granular component, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Unless otherwise indicated illustrations in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

There are various types of fuel compositions that may be provided by preferred embodiments of the present invention. In one embodiment of the present invention, the fuel composition may provide a renewable biofuel energy source that may reduce dependence on fossil fuels, and may further improve air quality by reducing the amount of carbon monoxide released into the air during combustion of the fuel composition. Those skilled in the art in light of the present teachings will recognize that the fuel composition may help to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. The fuel composition may also be efficacious in enhancing air quality by minimizing carbon monoxide emissions during combustion. The fuel composition may include, without limitation, a liquid phase, a solid phase, and a gas phase.

Those skilled in the art, in light of the present teachings, will recognize that the fuel composition derives from horticulture nature and/or substances having no petroleum. A granular component of the fuel composition may be derived from any number of sources including, but not limited to, that of land, water, plant, sea, and space retained source. Most of which may be known to man, others from plant and tree sources having yet to be discovered.

The invention relates to a fuel composition comprising a liquid non-petroleum plant based fuel with a solid suspended granular component. The liquid non-petroleum plant based fuel can be effectively used as a fuel (i.e., it is combustible) and can include ethanol, oils, biodiesels, bio-ethers, or any other combustible liquids derived from plants. In this case, the granular component may consist of elements from the periodic table existing in their pure forms, compounds that consist of multiple covalently or ionically bound periodic table elements, or mixtures of multiple compounds. The solid granular component could be both combustible and non-combustible solids, for example (including but not limited to) dry organic matter, synthetic organic solid compounds, polymers, aluminum powder, sulfur, and magnesium. The fabrication or creation of the granular component is highly dependent on the material that is to be used. Since the type of material is very broadly defined (i.e. element, compound, or mixture of compounds), there are many potential processes of preparation. For example, the granular component may require no processing and just exist as is, such as in the case of aluminum powder. On the other hand, it may require processing in order to break the compound down into smaller components such that it can be effectively suspended. In some cases, a top-down processing method could be used, in which a solid material (such as wood or dry organic matter) is ground or milled into smaller components. This could be achieved through the use of a ball or roll mill, for example, although other methods could be substituted. In a different embodiment, the granular materials could be made through a bottom-up process wherein they are synthesized directly into solution. For example, solid granular polymeric materials could be synthesized directly into nanometer or micrometer sized beads through emulsion polymerization. These are both just examples of potential fabrication methods, but should not be construed as the sole means through which solid granular components can be made.

In some embodiments, the fuel composition may combust when burned in a combustive assembly, including, without limitation, a LAQUR vehicle generation system engine, a combustion engine, a diesel engine, and a burner. The fuel composition may include an energy crop comprising of a solid granular component suspended in a liquid non-petroleum plant based fuel. The granular component may be efficacious in releasing copious quantities of vapor for burning. The fuel composition may further include an oxidizing agent for improving burning efficiency through increasing the fraction of volatile compounds. The fuel composition may further include additive that imparts a change in the physical properties of the fuel composition such as changing in viscosity, rheology and/or state of matter. Pre-modified granular component may also be used in the fuel composition.

The pre-modified solid granular component is one in which the aforementioned solid granular components undergo a pre-treatment process in which they are soaked in some sort of liquid prior to being added to the liquid non-petroleum plant-based fuel. The liquid in which the granular components are soaked can vary depending on the application. This liquid soaking process is meant to change the properties of the solid granular component for any number of reasons as outlined below:

(a) The solid granular component may be pre-soaked in order to allow the granular component to become saturated with the pre-soaking liquid so that the granular component does not absorb the liquid fuel. For example, if dry organic matter is used as the solid granular component, it may be pre-soaked in ethanol prior to addition to the liquid non-petroleum plant-based fuel so as to avoid additional absorption of the liquid fuel to which it is added in the final formulation.

(b) The solid granular component may be pre-soaked in order to provide a protective coating on the substance such as to avoid adverse chemical reactions between the granular component and the liquid non-petroleum plant-based fuel. Such adverse reactions could include (but are not limited to) degradation or oxidation. For example, a polymeric solid granular component may be soaked or coated with a liquid wax prior to addition to a non-petroleum plant based fuel if it is expected that addition of this polymer to this fuel may result in chemical degradation of the polymer into its base monomers.

(c) The solid granular component may be pre-soaked in order to promote or induce a desirable chemical reaction. Such reactions could include but are not limited to combustion, redox reactions, or chemical degradation.

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary fuel composition in an exemplary combustion process, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the fuel composition 100 may include an energy crop comprising of a granular component suspended in a liquid non-petroleum plant based fuel 102 that burns in a combustion assembly 104. However, in other embodiments, the granular component and liquid non-petroleum fuel derived from energy crop may include a plant or a plant derivative, including, without limitation, corn, rice, sorghum, wheat, sugar cane, switch grass, miscanthus, woody plants, and herbaceous plants. In some embodiments, the fuel composition may burn in a combustion assembly, including, without limitation, a LAQUR vehicle generation system engine, a chamber modulator, a combustion engine, a diesel engine, a jet engine, and a burner. In some embodiments, the granular component suspended in the liquid fuel may release vapors for improved burning efficiency during combustion. Those skilled in the art, in light of the present teachings will recognize that vapors can be the components of fuel that burn during combustion. The liquid fuel along with the granular component may release a large quantity of a vapor 106, thereby producing a more complete burn during combustion. In this manner, the vapors released from the granular component may improve the efficiency of the combustion. For example, a polymer may undergo degradation at high temperature and release smaller chain oligomers and/or monomers that vaporize and combust, which could improve combustion efficiency. In one embodiment of the present invention, the granular component may include a pre-modified and/or pre-soaked saturated granular component within the fuel composition. The granular component may be man-made and man injected for fuel enhancement, engine cleaning, and/or air cleaner purposes. In some embodiments, the granular component may include a non-petroleum product originating from plant, tree, and sea sources.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the fuel composition may further include an oxidizing agent 108 for receiving electrons from the granular component in liquid fuel during combustion. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the oxidizing agent is necessary for a complete and efficient combustive burning. The combustion may also produce heat and byproducts from the granular component. The oxidizing agent may include, without limitation, oxygen, fluorine, an inorganic chlorate, a perchlorate, a nitrate, and an organic oxidizing agent.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the fuel composition may further include an additive such as a fuel adhesive 110 for bonding the molecules of the fuel composition together. In this manner, the fuel composition may have enhanced stability both prior to, and during combustion. In some embodiments, the fuel adhesive may include an epoxy based adhesive efficacious for providing both adhesive and cohesive functions during boiling temperatures for extended periods of time. However, in other embodiments, the fuel adhesive may include, without limitation, a silicone-based, a polyurethane based, and an acrylic-based adhesive. In one alternative embodiment, the fuel composition may be a Ball-like Fuel, which includes a liquid non-petroleum plant based fuel containing a suspended solid granular component along with an additive that acts as a thickening agent which allows the fuel to change state from a liquid to a soft and moldable solid. Examples of thickening agents include starches (such as arrowroot, corn starch, or potato starch), agar, alginic acid, sodium alginate, gelatin, silica, polyethylene glycol, and pectin. The percentage of thickening agent added to the liquid fuel maybe from 0.01% to 60%. The Ball-like Fuel may be used to prolong the fuel life while still managing the weight of the fuel composition.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the fuel composition may burn in a chamber modulator located in the LAQUR vehicle generation system engine. In some embodiments, the chamber modulator may provide the only combustion assembly for burning the fuel composition. The chamber modulator may generate a microburst, whereby the granular components suspended in the liquid non-petroleum plant based fuel burst inside the chamber modulator. The burst may reduce the granular component to a smaller dimension than prior to entering the chamber modulator. In some embodiments, the chamber modulator may then count and recognize the weight amount of the smaller granular component. The granular component may then be transmitted to be burned with the fuel composition, thereby producing higher caloric counts and power throughout a LAQUR vehicle generation system.

In some embodiments, the LAQUR vehicle generation system concept may utilize the chamber modulator. The chamber modulator was designed so that the granular component fuel could be used in any vehicles having a modulator, including but not limited to ships, tanks, and airplanes. The chamber modulator may be the only way such granular components could be burned and effectively improve air quality rather than polluting in a manner not harmful to life on earth. The chamber modulator may allow for a microburst. In the microburst, the tiny granular components inside the fuels burst inside the chamber modulator reducing the granular components to their smallest point. The chamber modulator may then count and recognize the weight amount of the pre-modified granular components which are then sent along to be burned with the fuel. This may produce higher power throughout the LAQUR vehicle generation system vehicle system. Those skilled in the art will recognize that ash is nonexistent when coal burns. However, high grade filters may be employed as extra precaution when the fuel vapor is spewed.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary cycle for the combustion of an exemplary granular component, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In the present invention, a renewable energy source cycle 200 may involve a first Step 202 of growing a granular component, such as corn. Though in other embodiments, other granular components or non-petroleum products originating from plants may be utilized. In a Step 204, the granular component may be modified for further processing. The modification may include, without limitation, grinding into smaller units, integrating other granular components to form a granular component mixture, and liquefying the granular component composition. A Step 206 may include pre-soaking the granular component to saturation. The granular component may include a pre-modified and/or pre-soaked saturated granular component within the fuel composition. The granular component may be man-made and man injected for fuel enhancement, engine cleaning, and or air cleaner purposes. In some embodiments, the granular component may include a nonpetroleum product originating from plant, tree, and sea sources.

In some embodiments, a Step 208 comprises combusting the processed granular component. A chamber modulator may be the only way such granular components could be burned and effectively improve air quality rather than polluting in a manner not harmful to life on earth. The chamber modulator may allow for a microburst. In the microburst, the tiny granular components inside the fuels burst inside the chamber modulator reducing the granular components to their smallest point. The chamber modulator may then count and recognize the weight amount of the pre-modified granular components which are then sent along to be burned with the fuel. In some embodiments, a Step 210 may include fueling a vehicle with the combustion output of the granular component. A LAQUR vehicle generation system concept may utilize the chamber modulator inside a vehicle. The chamber modulator may enable the granular component fuel could be used in any vehicles having a modulator, including but not limited to ships, tanks, and airplanes. A Step 212 provides a recyclability factor, as carbon dioxide released by the vehicle helps additional granular components grow through the process of photosynthesis.

In another embodiment, the invention also relates to a method for combusting a fuel composition, the method comprising: adding a granular component to a liquid non-petroleum plant based fuel, the liquid non-petroleum plant based fuel containing the granular component being operable to release a vapor, the vapor being operable to improve combustion efficiency; adding an oxidizing agent to the liquid fuel containing the granular component, the oxidizing agent being operable to remove a plurality of electrons from the liquid fuel and/or the granular component during combustion; adding an additive such as a thickening agent which allows the liquid fuel to change state from a liquid to a soft and moldable solid; and combusting the fuel composition in a chamber modulator to release energy for powering a vehicle.

In one alternative embodiment, a pumping unit at a gas station may require a system to keep the granular components circulating inside the pump. In another alternative embodiment, the granular component may be processed for a plurality of uses, including, without limitation: blending with petrol to make a sustainable transport fuel, cosmetic and other manufacturing processes, and creating the clean burning, ornamental flames in a fireplace.

Those skilled in the art will readily recognize, in light of and in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, that any of the foregoing steps may be suitably replaced, reordered, removed and additional steps may be inserted depending upon the needs of the particular application. Moreover, the prescribed method steps of the foregoing embodiments may be implemented using any physical and/or hardware system that those skilled in the art will readily know is suitable in light of the foregoing teachings. For any method steps described in the present application that can be carried out on a computing machine, a typical computer system can, when appropriately configured or designed, serve as a computer system in which those aspects of the invention may be embodied. Thus, the present invention is not limited to any particular tangible means of implementation.

As used herein, “a”, “an” and “the” mean one or more (or at least one), unless expressly specified otherwise.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A fuel composition comprising: a solid granular component being suspended in a liquid non-petroleum plant based fuel, said liquid non-petroleum plant based fuel containing the granular component being operable to release a vapor, said vapor being operable to improve combustion efficiency.
 2. The composition of claim 1, in which said liquid non-petroleum plant based fuel is selected from the group consisting of ethanol, oil, biodiesel, bio-ether and any other combustible liquids obtained from plants.
 3. The composition of claim 1, in which said granular component consists of elements from the periodic table in pure forms, compounds that consist of multiple covalently or ionically bound periodic table elements, or mixtures of compounds.
 4. The composition of claim 1, in which said granular component consists of dry organic matter, synthetic organic solid compounds, a polymer, aluminum powder, sulfur or magnesium.
 5. The composition of claim 1, in which said granular component is a combustible or non-combustible solid.
 6. The composition of claim 1, in which said granular component is obtained from an energy crop selected from the group consisting of corn, switch grass, wheat, rice, sorghum, and miscanthus.
 7. The composition of claim 1, wherein the fuel composition further comprises an oxidizing agent and/or an additive, wherein said oxidizing agent is operable to remove a plurality of electrons from said liquid fuel and/or said granular component during combustion to oxidize the liquid fuel and/or the granular component; and wherein said additive imparts a change in the physical properties of the fuel composition consisting of changing in viscosity, rheology and/or state of matter.
 8. The composition of claim 7, in which said oxidizing agent comprises an inorganic chlorate, a perchlorate, a nitrate or an organic oxidizing agent.
 9. The composition of claim 7, in which said additive being a fuel adhesive is selected from the group consisting of an epoxy-based adhesive, a silicone-based adhesive, a polyurethane-based adhesive and an acrylic-based adhesive.
 10. The composition of claim 1, in which the granular component along with the liquid non-petroleum plant based fuel are operable to create combustion in a LAQUR vehicle generation system.
 11. The composition of claim 10, in which said LAQUR vehicle generation system comprises a chamber modulator.
 12. The composition of claim 11, in which said chamber modulator is configured to burn said granular component.
 13. The composition of claim 12, in which said chamber modulator is configured to produce a microburst in said granular component during said combustion.
 14. The composition of claim 1, in which the granular component is a pre-modified granular component, where the granular component is soaked in a liquid prior to being added to the liquid non-petroleum plant based fuel in order to change the properties of the granular component.
 15. The composition of claim 14, in which the pre-modified granular component is operable to improve the combustion efficiency of the fuel composition.
 16. The composition of claim 14, in which the pre-modified granular component is operable to avoid additional absorption of the liquid fuel to the granular component.
 17. The composition of claim 14, in which the pre-modified granular component is operable to provide a protective coating on the granular component.
 18. The composition of claim 7, in which said fuel composition is a ball-like fuel, wherein said additive is a thickening agent, which allows the fuel to change state from a liquid to a soft and moldable solid.
 19. The composition of claim 18, wherein the thickening agent is selected from the group consisting of starch, agar, alginic acid, sodium alginate, gelatin, silica, polyethylene glycol, and pectin.
 20. A fuel composition comprising: a. a solid granular component being suspended in a liquid non-petroleum plant based fuel, said granular component is obtained from an energy crop selected from the group consisting of corn, switch grass, rice, sorghum, miscanthus, wheat, and sugar cane, said granular component being operable to release a vapor during combustion; b. an oxidizing agent, said oxidizing agent being operable to remove a plurality of electrons from said granular component during combustion; and c. a thickening agent, which allows the liquid fuel to change state from a liquid to a soft and moldable solid.
 21. A method for combusting a fuel composition, the method comprising: a. adding a granular component to a liquid non-petroleum plant based fuel, said liquid non-petroleum plant based fuel containing the granular component being operable to release a vapor, the vapor being operable to improve the efficiency of the combustion process; b. adding an oxidizing agent to the liquid fuel containing the granular component, said oxidizing agent being operable to remove a plurality of electrons from the liquid fuel and/or the granular component during combustion; c. adding a thickening agent, which allows the liquid fuel to change state from a liquid to a soft and moldable solid to form a fuel composition; and d. combusting the fuel composition in a chamber modulator to release energy for powering a vehicle. 